Compare the2023 Nissan MuranoVS 2022 Porsche Cayenne Coupe

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Murano are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Murano has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Murano has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Murano’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

The Murano has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Cayenne Coupe’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Murano has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Cayenne Coupe.

The Murano’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Murano and the Cayenne Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Murano its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 89 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cayenne Coupe has not been tested, yet.

Nissan’s powertrain warranty covers the Murano 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Porsche covers the Cayenne Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Cayenne Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 6 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Murano’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Murano’s reliability 34 points higher than the Cayenne Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Cayenne Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Porsche vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Porsche is rated below average.

On the EPA test cycle the Murano gets better mileage than the Cayenne Coupe running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Murano uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Cayenne Coupe requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Murano higher (5 out of 10) than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe (3 to 5). This means the Murano produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cayenne Coupe every 15,000 miles.

The Murano has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

In an emergency stopping situation, many drivers don’t press the brakes with enough force to stop the vehicle in the shortest distance. The Murano has a standard brake assist system to detect emergency braking situations (by how hard and how quickly the brake pedal is pressed) and then automatically apply maximum braking immediately in order to help prevent a collision. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a brake assist feature.

The Murano has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Nissan Murano may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1500 pounds less than the Porsche Cayenne Coupe.

The design of the Nissan Murano amounts to more than styling. The Murano has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is lower than the Cayenne Coupe (.34 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Murano get better fuel mileage.

The Murano has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cayenne Coupe.

The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cayenne Coupe with its rear seat up (32.1 vs. 22 cubic feet). The Murano has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cayenne Coupe with its rear seat folded (67 vs. 54.3 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Murano’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Murano offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

If the front windows are left open on the Murano the driver can close them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Cayenne Coupe can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Murano’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Cayenne Coupe’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Murano has a standard rear wiper. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Murano has standard extendable sun visors. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Murano is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Cayenne Coupe doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Murano and the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Murano first among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Cayenne Coupe was rated third in its category.

The Nissan Murano outsold the Porsche Cayenne by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.